Earthquakes 2, Revs 1

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Chris Wondolowski scored a pair of goals to pull into a tie for the league lead and guide the visiting San Jose Earthquakes to a 2-1 win over the New England Revolution on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.

Wondolowski scored his 13th and 14th goals of the season in the eighth and 82nd minutes, sandwiched around Benny Feilhaber’s fourth goal of the season which temporarily brought the Revolution level in the 55th minute. Both the Revs (5-15-12, 27 pts.) and Earthquakes (7-11-14, 35 pts.) had been eliminated from postseason contention prior to the contest.

The Revs were without starting goalkeeper Matt Reis (R hamstring strain) and rookie center back A.J. Soares (L ankle surgery), with the duo replaced in the starting lineup by Bobby Shuttleworth and Darrius Barnes, respectively.

San Jose raced out to an early 1-0 lead as Wondolowski displayed his predatory instincts in the eighth minute. Rookie goalkeeper David Bingham’s long drive from inside his own box found Wondolowski as he streaked into the right side of the box and the 2010 MLS Golden Boot winner used his first touch to settle and his second to lash a shot inside the far post from a tight angle.

Wondolowski almost grabbed a second in the 18th minute, this time from distance as his 25-yard drive flashed inches wide of the right post just moments after Monsef Zerka had a shot blocked at the other end.

The Revs generated a series of half chances in the first half, but the best effort – Feilhaber’s 30-yard blast in the 36th minute – flew wide of the left post without testing Bingham.

It didn’t take the home side long to break through for the equalizing goal in the second half, however, as Feilhaber finished off a hectic sequence with an acrobatic finish in the 55th minute. Ryan Guy’s long-range drive was pushed away by Bingham and a follow-up header from Milton Caraglio hit the crossbar. Feilhaber was quickest to react as the ball came down, going airborne to blast a scissor kick into the roof of the net.

Caraglio almost got on the board himself in the 61st minute, but his firm header was well saved by Bingham. Just one minute later, Diego Fagundez had a shot blocked as the Revs continued to press forward.

The Earthquakes responded with a quality chance of their own in the 81st minute when Khari Stephenson was slipped into the right side of the box only to see his rising drive pushed away by Shuttleworth.

Shuttleworth could do nothing to stop Wondolowski from striking again in the 82nd minute, however, as San Jose regained its lead at 2-1. Sam Cronin was the set-up man with a right-wing cross floated to the back post, where Wondolowski rose highest to nod home from close range.

The Revs had a glorious chance to snatch a late equalizer when Feilhaber set up Caraglio in stoppage time, but the Argentine striker’s close-range effort popped over the crossbar.

Next up for the Revs is their 2011 home finale against the Columbus Crew on Saturday, Oct. 15. Kickoff from Gillette Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m.

Tonight’s match marked the 35th all-time meeting between two of the original MLS teams

With the loss, San Jose leads the all-time, regular-season series between the two clubs, 19-11-5 … since the Earthquakes returned to MLS after a two-year hiatus (2006-07), the Revs are 3-4-1 against San Jose

The loss gives San Jose the win in the season series between the two teams … San Jose took the first match with a 2-1 win on May 21 at Buck Shaw Stadium

The Revolution is 6-10-2 in home matches against San Jose, including a 2-6-2 mark at Gillette Stadium while being out-scored 14-6 … the loss snapped the Revs’ three-game undefeated streak (2-0-1) at home which dated back to 2008 when San Jose returned to MLS

In the 35 all-time meetings between the two clubs, San Jose has outscored New England, 65-44 … there have been 12 shutouts recorded in the series, with six posted by each club

For the first time since the 2008 season, New England has failed to shut out San Jose at least once during the two-game season series … New England had shut out San Jose in a 2-0 win in Foxborough on May 17, 2008, a 1-0 win at San Jose on March 21, 2009, and a 0-0 draw at home on May 15, 2010

Five of the last six meetings between the clubs have resulted in a scoreless draw or a one-goal game … San Jose earned a 2-0 win at Buck Shaw Stadium on April 17, 2010, marking the first time either team had won by multiple goals since the Earthquakes earned a 4-0 home win on August 16, 2008

The Revs entered the 75th minute tied for just the ninth time this season but were unable to come away with a point as they conceded an 82nd-minute goal … the Revs are now 1-2-6 when tied at the 75th-minute mark

With a goal allowed in the 82nd minute the Revs have now conceded a goal in the final 15 minutes of a match an MLS-leading 14 times, two more than Vancouver

For the third consecutive match the Revs have outshot their opponent and have failed to secure a point … the Revs are 0-6-5 this season when out-shooting their opponents

Benny Feilhaber scored his fourth goal of the season on a volley in the 55th minute … the goal was his first since September 7 against Philadelphia … his four goals are good for third on the club behind Rajko Lekic and Shalrie Joseph

With his 55th –minute goal, Benny Feilhaber has now been a part of the scoring line in the past three home matches … after notching an assist on Sept. 10 against FC Dallas, he earned his club-high fifth assist on Diego Fagundez’s 35th-minute goal last Saturday night against Seattle

Diego Fagundez made his second consecutive start tonight, the first time he has done so … Fagundez now has two starts in five appearances on the season

Bobby Shuttleworth earned his fifth start of the season tonight, but falls to 0-3-2 on the year